Water Fluoridation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Ceisteanna (930)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

930. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on the reason that 10 local authorities and seven urban district councils have voted to ban fluoridation of water supplies and yet his Department and the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health continues with a policy of fluoridation; if he will ask the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to address the position adopted by the 10 local authorities and to analyse their reasons for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58016/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

cal authorities have a statutory obligation to fluoridate public water supplies as provided for in the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies Act) 1960.

The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health keeps up to date on new and emerging issues regarding water fluoridation and no new issues have emerged to change the Expert Body's advice to the Department of Health. The opinion of the Expert Body is supported by the World Health Organisation; the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service and the Surgeon General of the United States; the World Dental Federation; the International Association for Dental Research; the Royal College of Physicians of England and by major international scientifically validated reviews in many countries.